Work handling device



May 17, 1932. w, w CHEWING 1,858,432

WORK HANDLING DEVI CE Original Filed Jan 12, 193i IN VEN TOR.

? Ml/am W Mew/1mg,

I BMW A TTORNE Y.

Patented May 17, 1932 UNITED STATES Fries PATEN' WORK HANDLING DEVICEApplication filed January 12, 1931, Serial No. 508,360. Renewed March22, 1932.

My invention relates toa work handling device.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a work handling device whichis adapted for .5 use in connection with flanged work, such as I beams.H-beams, railway rails, girders, columns, stringers, floor beams, anddouble beam lintels. v r The device embodies a pair of companion ingrip-members, which are supported by cables,

in such a manner that the cables automatically' draw the grip-memberstogether, for se cure clamping engagement with the work, preventingslippage. The grip-members may ;1 f5 be conveniently appliedto theflanged work, without first raising the work. The work handling deviceis of simple construction, strong and durable.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a M 2!) part of the specification,and. in which like numerals are employed to designate like partsthroughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the work handling device embodying myinvention, I Figure 2 is a plan view of the same, the

cables being shown in section, v

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 33 of Figure 1, Figure4is an inner 3o grip-members,

Figure 5 is an outer face view of the same,

Figure 6 is an outer face view of the companion grip-member,

Figure 7 is an inner face View of the same,

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section taken on line 8'8 of Figure 2,

Figure 9 is a plan view of a modified form of work handling device.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numerals 10 and 11 designatecompanion grip-members. Each gripmember is, preferably, a casting orforging. Each grip-member comprises a pair of vertiface view of one ofthe in each pair, are rigidly connected near their lower ends by ahorizontal transverse web 13, integral therewith, and a vertical web 14is formed integral with the horizontal web 13, 0 and is spaced fromthesides 12. At its upper cal sides 12, spaced, as shown. The sides 12,

end, the vertical web 14 is rigidly connected with the, upper ends ofthe'sides 12, by means of horizontally arranged grooved sheaves 15,integral with the web 14, and the-sides .12. The sheaves 15, 01 thegrip-member 10, are spaced a greater distance apart than the sheaves 15of the grip-member 11, so that these sets of sheaves are not inlongitudinal align ment. The arrangement of sides, webs and sheavesafford transverse passages 14,

through which cables to be described,extend.

The vertical web 14, of the grip-member 10 is formed wider than thevertical web 14-of the grip-member 11'. The grip-members 10 and 11 areprovided intheir lower portion with horizontal slots 16, and thesevslots pass through the sides 12 and horizontal webs 13, as shown. Thegripqnembers l0 and 11 are also provided with handles 17, in the form ofrods, which extend through openings 18 formed in the sides 12, and thesehandles are spaced from the horizontal and vertical webs 13' and 14.

The numerals 19 and 20 designate cables, which are bent uponthemselves,between their ends. The cable 19 passes outwardly of and inengagement with the sheaves 15 of the gripmember 10, and theintermediate portion of this continuous cable is arranged within ahorizontal groove 21, formed in the lower portion of the vertical web14, of'the grip-mem- I ber 11.- The free ends of the cable 19 extendupwardly and these free ends are attached to a ring 22, or the like. Ina similar manner, the cable 20. passes outwardly'of and in engagementwith the sheaves 15, of the gripmember 11, and the intermediate portionof this cable engages withina horizontal groove 23, formed in the lowerportion of the vertical web 14. The upper ends of the continuous cable20 are attached to the ring 22. The

ring 22 is, of course, connected with a cable, or the like, leading tosuitable hoisting mechanism for raising and lowering the device.

In Figure 8, I have shown a slightly modified form of the invention. Inthis figure, the sheaves 15, corresponding to the sheaves 15, arerotatable instead of being fixed, and are separate from the sides 10 andvertical webs 14. The sheaves 15 are rotatable upon shafts an operator,or operators, grasping the handles 17, to spread the grip-members lOand11, so that they may be arranged uponopposite sides of the flange 24:,of the work, so that the slots 16 may receivethe flange. It is obviousthat it will be unnecessary to first raise the work in applying thegrip-members to the same, as is ordinarily necessary when passing acable or chain about the work. a As soon as 7 the device is raised, thedownward pull of the p supporting the grip-members, each cable havload,through the co-action of the cables and sheaves, causes the grip-membersto be moved horizontally inwardly, with respect to the work, therebyhaving clamping or binding actiontherewith. It has been toundthat thework will not slip when being suspended by V the grip-members l0 and 11.

It isalso seen that the grip-members may be applied to various kinds ofwork having an available flange upon which the device may be mounted, asexplained. This is important in unloading diflerent work.

I The operation of the second form of the device is similar to that ofthe first, and it is thought. to be unnecessary to describe the same. Inthe first form of the device, the cables slide upon the variousstationary sheaves, while in the second form of the invent-ion, thesheaves are rotatable.

l Vhile the device is particularly well adapted to be used in handlingflanged work, or

work having a projecting-flange, yet it is not necessarily restricted tothis use, as difl erent types of engaging jaws may be provided;

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herein shown anddescribed are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or thescope of the subjoined claims. r

, Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A work handling device, comprising a pair of grip-members, eachgrip-member having a recess formed in its inner face for receiving theflange of the work, and cables for ing a relativelyimovable engagementwith the outer side of the corresponding grip-member, and extendinginwardly beyond thesame, and connected with the companion grip-memher,the arrangement being such that the'cagrip-members together, and alsoserve to suspend the same.

2. A work handling device, comprising a pair of opposed grip-members,each gripmember having a slot formed in its inner face for receiving theflange of the Work, and a flexible element engaging the outer portion ofeach grip-member and extending inward- .lyl across the same and engagingthe outer portion of the companion grip-member, the arrangement beingsuch that the flexible elements suspend the grip-members and also urgethem inwardly toward each other.

3. A work handling device, comprising a pair of opposed grip-membershaving slots in their inner faces for receiving the flange of the work,and a flexible element engaging the outer side of the upper portion ofeach grip-member and extending inwardly across the same andengaging thecompanion gripmember at a point beneath the upper portion of the same,the arrangement being such that the flexible elements suspend thegrip-members and also urge them inwardly toward each'other. f

4:. A work handling device, comprising .a pair of opposed grip-membersprovided with inner work-engaging means, a sheave carried by the upperportion of each grip-member, and a flexible element passed about theouter side of the sheave of each grip-member and extending inwardlyacross such grip member and engaging the companion gripmember at a pointbeneath its sheave.

5. A work handling device, comprising a pair of opposed grip-membersprovided with inner'work-engaging means, each grip-member embodying agenerally vertical web and a pair'of sheaves arranged near the upperendot said grip-member, and a flexible element folded upon itself foruse in connection with each grip-member, the folded flexible elementaffording a pair of strands engaging the outer sides of the sheaves ofthe corre-- ber, and a looped flexible element for each grip-memberembodying sides and an intermediate portion, the sides of the flexibleelement engaging the outer sides of the sheavesof the correspondinggrip-member and extending inwardly across the same and having itsintermediate portion engaging the grooved part of the generally verticalweb of the companion grip-member.

7. A work handling device, comprising a pair of opposed grip-members,each gripmember including a pair of spaced sides, a horizontal webrigidly connecting the sides and having a horizontal groove formed uponits inner face, a generally vertical web disposed between the sides andspaced therefrom and rigidly connected with the horizontal web,stationary sheaves arranged between the sides and generally Vertical Weband rigidly connected therewith, the arrangement of the sides, webs, andsheaves affording transverse passages in the grip-member, a cable foreach grip-member bent upon itself for afiording sides and anintermediate portion, the sides of each cable engaging the outer sidesof the sheaves of the corresponding grip-member and extending inwardlythrough the passages of such corresponding grip-member and having itsintermediate portion extending around the generally vertical web of thecompanion grip-member, and means for connecting the free ends of thecables.

8. A work handling device, comprising a pair of opposed grip-members,each gripmember including a pair of spaced sides, a generally horizontalweb rigidly connecting the lower portions of the sides and having a 3generally horizontal groove upon its inner face, a generally verticalweb disposed between the sides and spaced therefrom and rigidlyconnected with the horizontal web, a shaft connecting the upper ends ofthe sides and generally vertical web, rotatable sheaves arranged betweenthe sides and generally vertical web and carried by the shaft, thearrangement being such that transverse passagesare provided beneath thesheaves, and a 0 cable for use in connection with each gripmember, saidcable being folded between its ends for providing an intermediateportion and sides, the sides of each cable engaging the outer sides ofthe sheaves of the correspending grip-member, and extending inwardlythrough the passages and having its intermediate portion passed aboutthe outer, side of the generally vertical web of the companiongrip-member, and means for connecting the free ends of the cables.

9. A work handling device, comprising opposed grip-members, eachgrip-member being provided upon its inner face with a flange receivinggroove, a handle arranged upon 5 the outer side of each grip-member andattached thereto, and a flexible element engag ing the outer side of theupper portion of each grip-member and extending inwardly across suchgrip-member and engaging the co companion grip-member, the arrangementbeing such that the flexible elements serve to suspend the grip-membersand urge them inwardly toward each other.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM W. CHEWNING.

